Ranking All 30 MLB Bullpens

2012 has been an interesting year in terms of relief pitching. Top closers such as Joakim Soria, Andrew Bailey, Brian Wilson and Mariano Rivera have all been lost for major chunks, or the season as a whole. As a result, many relief pitchers are adjusting to new roles, filling voids left behind by big-name pitchers.

Over the next slides, I will break down all 30 bullpens in the league by ranking each pitcher currently amongst them as of June 20, 2012 to come up with an overall ranking of each pen.

28. New York Mets

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Miguel Batista: 7

Tim Byrdak: 7.5

Elvin Ramirez: 3

Jon Rauch: 6

Jeremy Hefner: 4

Bobby Parnell: 7

CP: Frank Francisco: 6

Total: 40.5

The Mets have shocked many around baseball by contending in the immensely tough NL East. Yet their pen has been worse than what manager Terry Collins had hoped for. If they want to stay in contention, this bullpen will have to improve.

25. Minnesota Twins

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Jeff Manship: 2

Jeff Gray: 4.5

Brian Duensing: 6.5

Alex Burnett: 7.5

Jared Burton: 7.5

Glen Perkins: 7.5

CP: Matt Capps: 7

Total: 42.5

The first AL team to appear on the list, the Twins have had a pretty bad year out of the pen so far, which is due to how few strikeouts the group amasses. Burton and Perkins are the only two members of the group with respectable K/9 numbers.

23. San Diego Padres

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Dale Thayer: 4.5

Alex Hinshaw: 6

Brad Boxberger: 6

Luke Gregerson: 6.5

Brad Brach: 5

Joe Thatcher: 7.5

CP: Huston Street: 9

Total: 44.5

In a curious offseason move, the Padres traded for Huston Street at a time where the team obviously needed to start a rebuilding process. While Street has been dominant, the rest of the pen's depth is questionable at best and in need of improvements.

22. Toronto Blue Jays

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Aaron Laffey: 6

Luis Perez: 7

Jason Frasor: 6

Jesse Chavez: 3

Robert Coello: 3

Francisco Cordero: 4.5

Carlos Villanueva: 7.5

CP: Casey Janssen: 8

Total: 45

The Jays have struggled to find consistency in their pen since closer Sergio Santos was injured. Cordero filled in poorly as closer, and now it's up to Casey Janssen to close games. Look for Cordero and Frasor to pitch much better over the rest of the season.

19. Philadelphia Phillies

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Jake Dickman: 6

Chad Qualls: 5.5

Joe Savery: 5

Michael Schwimmer: 4.5

Raul Valdez: 8

Antonio Bastardo: 8.5

CP: Jonathan Papelbon: 9

Total: 46

Although offseason acquisition Jonathan Papelbon has pitched excellently and Antonio Bastardo has evolved into an elite left-handed set-up man, the rest of the Phillies pen has been average at best. This has cost the team a few games as a result in the uber-competitive NL East

18. Texas Rangers

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Scott Feldman: 4

Michael Kirkman: 6

Mark Lowe: 8

Robbie Ross: 9

Tanner Scheppers: 2

Mike Adams: 7

CP: Joe Nathan: 10

Total: 46

This group is headlined by a phenomenal comeback by Joe Nathan as the team's closer. Young Robbie Ross is dominating hitters as well at just 22 years of age. Yet pitchers like Scott Feldman and Tanner Scheppers are going to need to step up for the group to be truly elite.

16. Milwaukee Brewers

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Tim Dillard: 4.5

Michael Fiers: 7

Kameron Loe: 7

Manny Parra: 5

Juan Perez: 4.5

Francisco Rodriguez: 6.5

Jose Veras: 7

CP: John Axford: 5

Total: 46.5

The Brewers have yet to have any reliever stand up and really perform above the rest, hence why Axford is still the closer. I believe the veteran pieces of this bullpen will improve as the season goes on, yet if they don't, it's going to be a long summer for the Brew Crew, and they will certainly move down this list.

15. Colorado Rockies

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Matt Reynolds: 7

Jeremy Guthrie: 3

Matt Belisle: 8

Rex Brothers: 6.5

Adam Ottavino: 7.5

Josh Roenicke: 8

CP: Rafael Betancourt: 7.5

Total: 47.5

While not as bad as the Rockies rotation, this pen does leave a lot to be desired. Players such as Adam Ottavino, Josh Roenicke and Matt Belisle have pitched very well, but this group is in need of some help. Unfortunately, it's going to be a long summer in Denver no matter what happens with the pen.

14. Los Angeles Dodgers

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Scott Elbert: 7

Ronald Belisario: 9

Todd Coffey: 5

Josh Lindblom: 8.5

Shawn Tolleson: 5

Jamey Wright: 6.5

CP: Kenley Jansen: 9

Total: 50

Alas, we have reached the upper-echelon of bullpens. With one of the best strikeout pitchers in Kenley Jansen closing games out and leading the way, the Dodgers have managed to put together one of the better pens in the game.

13. Atlanta Braves

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Anthony Vervaro: 3

Todd Redmond: 5

Chad Durbin: 6

Victor Marte: 6

Eric O'Flahery: 7

Kris Medlen: 6.5

Jonny Venters: 7

CP: Craig Kimbrel: 10

Total: 50.5

Although closer Craig Kimbrel has pitched lights-out again this year, other parts of the Braves pen have struggled at times. Look for Jonny Venters, Eric O'Flaherty and Christhian Martinez to all lower their ERAs as the season progresses, moving the Braves into the top 10.

12. New York Yankees

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Cody Eppley: 8

Clay Rapada: 7

Cory Wade: 8

Boone Logan: 8

Freddy Garcia: 2

David Robertson: 8

CP: Rafael Soriano: 10

Total: 51

The Yankees have absorbed the loss of Mariano Rivera quite well. Rafael Soriano has done a phenomenal job as closer, with David Robertson, Boone Logan and Cory Wade providing excellent setup work. Look for Robertson to lower his ERA in the second half and for the Yankees to ditch the struggling Freddy Garcia, the weak link pitching his way out of the Bronx.

11. Oakland Athletics

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Jerry Blevins: 8

Grant Balfour: 7.5

Sean Doolittle: 6

Pedro Figueroa: 8

Jim Miller: 8.5

Brian Fuentes: 5

CP: Ryan Cook: 10

Total: 52.5

As always, Billy Beane has constructed a solid bullpen. Ryan Cook looks ready to emerge into super-stardom, and Jerry Blevins, Jim Miller, Pedro Figueroa and Grant Balfour have all been highly effective when called upon.

8. Kansas City Royals

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Kelvin Herrera: 8

Jose Mijares: 8

Greg Holland: 7

Tim Collins: 9

Ramon Colon: 5

Aaron Crow: 8

CP: Jonathan Broxton: 10

Total: 55

Broxton has filled in admirably for the injured Joakim Soria. Young arms such as Aaron Crow, Tim Collins, Kelvin Herrera and Greg Holland will keep this unit near the top of such rankings for years to come.

6. Tampa Bay Rays

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Burke Badenhop: 8

Joel Peralta: 7

Wade Davis: 8.5

J.P. Howell: 5.5

Jake McGee: 9

Cesar Ramos: 7.5

CP: Fernando Rodney: 10

Total: 55.5

Somehow, some way, the Rays have one of the best pens in the bigs made up by a combination of young pitchers and veteran journeyman castoffs. Look for this overachieving unit to regress in the second half.

4. Cincinnati Reds

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Alfredo SImon: 9

J.J. Hoover: 8

Logan Ondrusek: 7

Jose Arredondo: 8.5

Sean Marshall: 8

Sam LeCure: 6.5

CP: Aroldis Chapman: 9.5

Total: 56.5

Chapman has been in a bit of a slump recently after allowing his first run of the season vs. Pittsburgh a couple weeks ago, although his 1.57 ERA and league-leading 59 strikeouts in relief are still phenomenal. Alfredo Simon has also been a surprise this year, starting off strong with a 1.98 ERA.

3. Boston Red Sox

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Clayton Mortensen: 8

Mark Melancon: 3

Vicente Padilla: 6.5

Andrew Miller: 8.5

Franklin Morales: 7.5

Matt Albers: 8.5

Scott Atchison: 9

CP: Alfredo Aceves: 6

Total: 57

After a rocky start to the season, pitchers such as Andrew Miller, Franklin Morales, Matt Albers and Scott Atchison have come up big time and time again. Once Andrew Bailey returns from injury, expect the pen to keep improving, as everyone will be returned to their original roles, with Alfredo Aceves likely being the biggest beneficiary.

2. Baltimore Orioles

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Dana Eveland: 7

Kevin Gregg: 5

Darren O'Day: 9.5

Troy Patton: 7

Luis Ayala: 9

Pedro Strop: 9.5

CP: Jim Johnson: 10

Total: 57

Baltimore's pen has proven to be tops among the American League, with guys like Jim Johnson, Pedro Strop, Luis Ayala and Darren O'Day shutting down opponents night in and night out, keeping the O's in the thick of the standings.

1. Washington Nationals

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Mike Gonzalez: 8

Tom Gorzelanny: 7

Ryan Mattheus: 8.5

Craig Stammen: 9

Ross Detwiler: 7

Sean Burnett: 9

CP: Tyler Clippard: 9

Total: 57.5

The best and most complete bullpen in the big leagues this year so far has been that of the Washington Nationals. This strong bullpen, coupled with a great rotation, will help the Nats reach the playoffs for the first time in their brief history.